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Stepan HmaraUkrainian political figure
Date of Birth: 12.10.1937
Country:  Ukraine |
Content:
- Stepan Khmara: Ukrainian Dissident and Political Activist
- Dissident Movement Involvement
- First Arrest and Imprisonment
- Post-Release Activities
- Ukrainian Republican Party and Second Arrest
- Ukrainian Conservative Republican Party
- 1994 Parliamentary Victory
- National Front and Electoral Setbacks
- Career in Batkivshchyna and Ukrainian National Party
- Hero of Ukraine and Later Career
- Literary Work
Stepan Khmara: Ukrainian Dissident and Political Activist
Early Life and EducationStepan Khmara was born on October 12, 1937, in Bobyatin, Poland (now Ukraine). After graduating high school, he worked as a driver for four years before enrolling in the dentistry program at Lviv Medical Institute, which he completed in 1964.
Dissident Movement Involvement
During his university years, Khmara became actively involved in the dissident movement, distributing underground literature (samizdat). In 1972, he joined the editorial board of the clandestine journal "Ukrainian Herald."
First Arrest and Imprisonment
In 1975, the authorities attempted to arrest Khmara for his dissident activities. However, the case was dismissed due to lack of evidence. In 1980, Khmara was convicted of "anti-Soviet agitation and propaganda" and sentenced to seven years in prison and five years in exile. He served his sentence in the Perm region of Russia.
Post-Release Activities
Upon his release in 1987, Khmara played a key role in the reestablishment of the Ukrainian Helsinki Group. In 1990, he was elected to the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament) from the Industrial electoral district.
Ukrainian Republican Party and Second Arrest
In April 1990, Khmara helped found the Ukrainian Republican Party (URP) and became its deputy chairman. However, in November 1990, he was arrested again on charges of assaulting a police officer, an incident known as the "Khmara Affair." He was released from custody in April 1991.
Ukrainian Conservative Republican Party
Following the "Khmara Affair," Khmara left the URP and established the Ukrainian Conservative Republican Party (UKRP). He served as the party's chairman from 1992 onward.
1994 Parliamentary Victory
Khmara achieved his greatest electoral success in the 1994 parliamentary elections, defeating his rival from the URP by a substantial margin.
National Front and Electoral Setbacks
In 1998, Khmara's UKRP formed an electoral alliance with the URP and the KUH called the "National Front." However, the alliance failed to reach the electoral threshold, and Khmara lost his parliamentary seat. In subsequent elections, he faced further electoral defeats.
Career in Batkivshchyna and Ukrainian National Party
In 2001, the UKRP dissolved itself, and Khmara joined the Batkivshchyna party. He served as deputy leader to Yulia Tymoshenko before leaving in 2005. Khmara became a member of the Ukrainian National Party (UNP) and unsuccessfully contested the 2006 parliamentary elections.
Hero of Ukraine and Later Career
In 2006, Khmara was awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine. He participated in the 2007 parliamentary elections on the "Our Ukraine - People's Self-Defense" bloc's list but was again unsuccessful in gaining a parliamentary seat.
Literary Work
Khmara is the author of several books, including "Ethnocide of Ukrainians in the USSR" and "General Pogrom."
